Lion Update - October

Gobbolina and Meatball

After a very chilly winter, summer has finally arrived in Namibia. However, as the temperature heats up, the insects have come out to play, causing problems for our lovely lions - Meatball, Gobbolina, Clarence, Winnie and Nancy. 

Our 5 Lions: July Update

Our brave, fearless and slightly crazy project manager Cila decided to sleep in the 3 lions camp with Clarence, Winnie and Nancy, all in the name of fundraising to help raise money to feed the animals. Thanks to all our supporters, a whopping N$10,029 was raised which is fantastic! And on the 3rd June Cila ventured in to the lion's den...

A Spring Clean for the Lions!

In February it was time for a regular spring clean of the lion camps. This involves entering the camp to clear away the long grass and remove any bones and faeces in order to give the lions a cleaner environment.

The first camp to be cleaned was Meatball and Gobbolina's camp and at first the aim was to dart the two lions in order to keep the co-ordinators and volunteers safe and not allow the lions to become distressed by the volunteers’ presence in the camp. Unfortunately the darts missed the lions! So the cleaning teams then decided to proceed with utmost caution and go into the camps with the lions. Co-ordinators and volunteers were stationed all around the camp to watch the lions and once the lions were confirmed to be at the bottom of the camp the cleaning teams entered the top of the camp in a convoy of cars. 

In constant radio contact, the teams quietly set about clearing bones and faeces from the lions’ regular eating areas. There were lots of skulls and huge thigh bones littered around!  

At one point Meatball made his way towards the top of the camp and the teams had to quickly sneak back in the cars and sit in silence.

Once the clean-up was complete the teams also cut back the grass around the edges of the lions’ camps in order to stop it interfering with the electric fence. The day was very successful with the lions barely noticing us and getting a nice clean camp by the end of the day!

Next up it's time to clean Clarence, Winnie and Nancy's enclosure.



Clarence is clearly very hungry - he'll take it to go!

Wnnie catching some shade





Gobbolina is clearly feeling a little hormonal



Duma - January 2011

The day of Duma's big move finally came on 27th November! It was a very exciting day for us all at N/a'an ku se as we couldn't wait to see this beautiful leopard roam in the wide open space she deserves. 

Happy New Year from the N/a'an Ku Sê Lions

Gobbolina is currently on heat so poor old Meatball is thoroughly preoccupied and has been off his food for a while. He is also being surprisingly quiet with very little roaring at night which is very unlike Meatball! He is usually such a vocal animal, particularly at night!

However Meatball’s appetite appeared to be coming back as he managed to wolf down two whole chickens in a matter of minutes today!

Clarence and his two lionesses, Winnie and Nancy, are all very well. As it is currently so hot during the day all 3 lions are spending most of their time lying in the shade of the long grass and the trees in order to keep cool. They do still have their full appetites though, despite the heat, and are always ready and eager at feeding time!